“If music be the food of love, play on!”
I first fell in love with Twelfth Night: Or What You Will when I was studying Theatre at UVic and had the opportunity to perform as the on-stage musician in their Beatles-era production of the play. Music has always played a huge part in my life and is the backbone of this story. The music helps paint a picture of the world of the play as well as the characters’ journeys through it. I have always wanted to write music to accompany Shakespeare’s words, especially for this play. Twelve years later, I am so excited to bring my vision of this classic story to life! Special thanks to; Bryan, Brad, Pam and Greig for their work on the set, the BIV board for giving me this opportunity, and my family for all their love and support.
Director's Biography
Andrew is the Artistic Director of Creative Edge School of Arts, in Abbotsford, where he has directed dozens of plays and musicals over the past 10 years.
As a graduate of UFV and UVic Theatre programs, Andrew has been involved in many community productions as an actor, director, and musician. Most recently he performed as Uncle Henry/Emerald Guard in The Wizard of Oz (CTORA Theatre), and directed The SpongeBob Musical (CESoA).
Andrew is a long-time fan of Shakespeare’s works, having performed as Orlando in As You Like It (Victoria Shakespeare Society), the Musician in Twelfth Night (Phoenix Theatre) and Director of Merchant of Venice (UVic Student Society). This is his third production with BIV, having previously performed in and composed music for 2023’s Almost Maine, as well assisted with music production for 2023’s Cymbeline. He thanks the whole cast and crew for their time and energy in bringing this story to the stage.
Crew
Director - Andrew Gillott
Producer - Brad Hendy
Production Manager - Bryan Cutler
Stage Manager - Anika Luteijn
Vocal Coach - Madison McArthur
Media & Communications - Bryan Cutler
Intimacy Coach - Phay Moores
Costume Design - Natasha Purnell
Lighting Design - Andrew Gillott
Sound Tech - Dean Jensen
Props - Shawn McGrory
Set Dec - Pam Rochon
Front of House Supervisor - Madison McArthur
Volunteer Coordinator - Dayna Coulter
Orsino
Mary Jane "M.J." Arden is thrilled to work with Bard in the Valley again. Ever since she was young, Shakespeare has been one of her favorite playwrights to perform. M.J. has previously played roles such as Siri (The Snow Queen; RCTC), Beth/Lyra (Once Upon a Fairytale; Capricorn Theatre Prod), and Provost/Juliet (Measure for Measure; Bard in the Valley). Enjoy!
Olivia
Delaney is an accomplished improviser, voice-over artist, and actor. She has traveled across Canada performing improv and regularly takes the stage as a member of The Spontaneous Shakespeare Company and Very Very Improv. Visit delaneygilmour.com to explore her artistic endeavors, including stage combat and her recently published video game, Monolith.
Feste
Isabel Miller is a multidisciplinary musician and actor, with performance abilities in classical ballet, violin, and singing that have directed her to pursue a career in theatre and film/television. Having been born in Spain and raised partially in Mexico City and Vancouver, she finds that theatrical works help centre her fragmented sense of identity - she can be her own authentic self through the exploration of diverse experiences and voices. Isabel is a passionate advocate for movement based theatre as inspired by the theoretical works of Jaques Lecoq and is forever finding ways to push herself artistically and explore new mediums of dramatic substance. She has received Shakespearean training from the London School of Dramatic Arts, Jeb Beach and Associates, as well as meeting regularly with her coach, RADA graduate Skye Hallam. Her current theatre credits include Twelfth Night (Bard in the Valley: Andrew Gillott), The Snow Queen (Royal Canadian Theater company; Kerri Norris), Romeo and Juliet (LAMDA: Lucy Curtis), Death of a Salesman (Director: Wes Bois), Shakespeare in Love (Director: Catriana Van Rijn), and Les Miserables (Director: Robert Wisden). When she is not acting, she is producing music shows and performing jazz gigs at Frankie's Jazz Club. Isabel believes that art in its theatrical form helps people to dream, feel heard, and acts a fulcrum for radical social change.
Malvolio/Nurse
Misha is very excited to put on some yellow stockings upon his return to the BIV stage! Malvolio is a part Misha was dreaming of playing for years and will be a terrific continuation to the characters he has already had the opportunity to perform with BIV, which include Don Pedro (Much Ado About Nothing) and Nick Bottom (Midsummer Night’s Dream).
Antonia/Fabian
Heather is thrilled to be back on stage with Bard in the Valley, last appearing in Measure for Measure as ‘Escalus’. Her most recent acting credit was ‘Alice’ in Confessions of a Grocery Clerk (Vagabond Players/Capricorn Theatre Productions). She looks forward to bringing you three times the characters this time around. Enjoy the show!
Sir Andrew / Officer
John McCallum is a graduate of the Douglas College Performing Arts program. They have worked with multiple theatre companies in the Lower-mainland. They thank everyone who has supported and continues to support local theatre performances, and they hope you enjoy the production and appreciate the efforts of both the cast and crew. Thank you.
Maria / Curio
After a four year acting hiatus, Emily is thrilled to return to the stage. After getting the chance to direct her first show, Measure for Measure, and learning how to sound op for Cymbeline, Emily is excited to work with BIV once again. She is grateful to get to constantly work with new and old faces with this fantastic company!
Viola
Martina Vos is very excited to be stepping into the roles of Viola and Sebastian in this production. She has always wondered what it's like to be a twin, having absorbed hers in the womb. A graduate of the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts, she has been working in theatre and film for many years as an actor and improviser. Her most recent productions include a cross-country tour with the Spontaneous Shakespeare Company and a role in the horror film Twig and Twine.
Sir Toby / Officer
After a two-year hiatus from the world of theatre to delve into other creative pursuits, Kamil Uzmasson is thrilled to return, diving back into the theatrical realm by embodying the rollicking persona of Sir Toby Belch in BIV’s rendition of "The Twelfth Night." You might recognize Kamil from his previous role in "Alice in Wonderland" with the Royal Canadian Theatre Company, where he sported whimsical ears and engaged in a plethora of playful antics. If you missed that performance, fret not, for there's an abundance of delightful mischief awaiting as he steps into the tipsy and unrefined shoes of Sir Toby. Kamil is “belching” out of excitement to be around such a talented cast and crew and is eager to share this iteration of The Twelfth Night with the audience.
Scene 1: Late one night, on the Island of Illyria, the melancholy Duke Orsino scrolls through pictures of his crush, Olivia, and contemplates the nature of love. Olivia, meanwhile, records a song in memory of her late brother.
Scene 2: Viola, a shipwrecked refugee from Messaline, wakes up in a hospital bed. A kindly Nurse helps her disguise herself to avoid detection by an Immigration Officer
Scene 3: Over at Olivia’s beachside resort, her best friend (and personal assistant) Maria tries to rid the house of Olivia’s drunken uncle, Toby, and his dimwitted friend Sir Andrew (who also seeks Olivia’s affections)
Scene 4: Viola (Who is now in disguise as a boy named Cesario) arrives at Orsino’s place to discover the Duke has a special mission for her.
Scene 5: Feste returns from being abroad and is confronted by Maria and Olivia who are upset by his absence. Olivia suddenly gets a surprise visit from a handsome young stranger.
Scene 6: Meanwhile, on the streets of Illyria, we find Viola’s twin brother Sebastian is alive! He is seeking asylum with the help of a kind woman (and supposed criminal) named Antonia.
Scene 7: Toby, Andrew, and Feste are up late (or early?) and decide to stage their very own concert right in Olivia’s courtyard. Malvolio shuts down the party, and Toby seeks revenge.
Scene 8: Over at Orsino’s place, Feste’s music feeds Orsino’s melancholy heart before things get a bit awkward between Orsino and Cesario (Aka Viola)
Scene 9: Maria’s plan to fool Malvolio is put into motion
Intermission
Scene 1: Cesario reluctantly returns to see Olivia, who reveals some truths. A jealous Sir Andrew decides to take matters into his own hands
Scene 2: Hoping to gain Sebastian’s affection, Antonia aids her new friend before sending him on his way to Olivia’s resort
Scene 3: Malvolio appears in very strange manner in front of Olivia. Is it true love, or is he mad? Tobyproceeds to pit Cesario against Sir Andrew, just to see what happens.
Scene 4: Feste, meanwhile is chasing after someone who looks an awful lot like Cesario. Sebastian gets more than he bargained for at Olivia’s place.
Scene 5: Maria, Toby and Feste have a bit of fun at Malvolio’s expense, but have they gone too far?
Scene 6: Orsino shows up to see Olivia, and finds nothing is really as it seems.
BIV performs, rehearses, & gathers on the unceded lands of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Matsqui, Semiahmoo & Sumas First nations